Stop Demolishing the 1000 year old temple

It was built a 1,000 years ago and is a protected heritage monument. But soon it will be demolished. This 1,000-year-old temple near Kumbakonam is going to be demolished to make way for a 4-lane highway. The highway is planned under the Thanjavur-Vikkiravandi 4-way project of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Built between 1012 and 1044 AD by Rajendra Chola, the temple in Manampadi village contains at least ten priceless inscriptions from that period. The numerous sculptures found in the premises are rare and unique.

The NHAI has now decided to demolish this temple for widening the highway and has already earmarked the areas.

2014 would be the 1,000th year celebration of the coronation of Rajendra Chola, son of Raja Raja Chola. The demolition of a temple constructed by him will be shameful for the entire Tamil community.

The people of the village, historians and archaeologists have opposed the move and appealed to the Tamilnadu Government and NHAI to divert the road project to the extreme northern side of the temple, to protect the monument.

The Project Implementation Officer of this project and the District Collector can choose to stop the destruction of this national heritage.

Hence I have started this petition asking the Project Implementation Officer, NHAI and the Thanjavur District Collector to stop the demolition of this 1,000 year old temple. If enough of us sign the petition, they will know that the people of Tamilnadu and India do not want to see this heritage monument demolished.

Recently, residents of the Pannaiyapalayam village in Villupuram district protested against the planned demolition of a 1,300-year-old temple under the same road project. Heeding to their protests, the NHAI did not demolish the temple.

Sign this petition and join me in telling the Project Officer of NHAI and the Thanjavur District Collector, to stop the demolition of this 1,000-year-old temple and to re-mark the roads.